ENB:05:42
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FRIDAY, 28 APRIL 1995
ITALY: Paolo Baratta, Minister of the Environment, said that Italy is the most energy efficient of the OECD countries. He proposed that sustainable urban development be included in next year's agenda. He noted that UNEP and the WTO should cooperate to find a balance between free trade and environmental regulations.
GHANA: Christina Amoako-Nuama, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, noted that Ghana has: established environmental committees to integrate environmental concerns into development initiatives; launched a new Forest and Wildlife Policy; and established a National Biodiversity Committee.
BARBADOS: Richard Cheltenham, Minister for Tourism, International Transport and the Environment, said that in preparation for next year's review of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, the CSD should carry out an initial review of the steps taken to implement the Barbados Programme of Action.
POLAND: Dr. Andrzej Szujecki, Deputy Minister for Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry, described Poland's experiences with deforestation and recent afforestation efforts, including the opening of the first forest gene bank and the establishment of forest reserves and parks. He praised the new CSD format.
FINLAND: Sirkka Hautoj„rvi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Environment, noted that Finland is prepared to organize a meeting on criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management. UNEP should study the environmental impacts of trade policies, internalization of environmental costs, and the implementation of the polluter-pays principle.
INDIA: Shri N.R. Krishnan, Ministry of Environment and Forests, called on developed countries to lead the way in changing production and consumption patterns. He called for international financial institutions to reorient their policies toward the further implementation of Agenda 21 and mechanisms for EST transfer.
CHINA: Amb. Wang Xuexian noted that environmental factors have led to the erection of trade barriers against developing countries, aggravating their poverty and hampering economic development. While intellectual property rights are important, they should not hamper the transfer of ESTs.
VENEZUELA: Luis Castro Morales, Vice Minister of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, noted that Venezuela made a recent decision not to export logs and is promoting tree planting for commercial purposes. Venezuela is removing the lead from gasoline for export and domestic use.
MALAYSIA: Dr. Othman Yeop Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Primary Industries, said that Malaysia has new forestry legislation and is developing a comprehensive national forestry action plan and is establishing a national committee on sustainable forest management.
CHILE: Alejandro Gutierrez, Vice Minister of Agriculture, said Chile has developed new legislation on the creation and management of national parks and a national plan to combat desertification. He highlighted the creation of the Valdivia Group in March 1995, which brings together temperate forest countries of the southern hemisphere.
BELGIUM: Amb. Alex Reyn suggested that the CSD achieve more political visibility to publicize sustainable development. He noted the dependency of sustainable development on socio-cultural factors. An instrument for internalizing environmental and social costs must be developed.
BANGLADESH: Amb. Reaz Rahman called for: measures to minimize negative effects on LCDs and food importing countries; measures to overcome negative effects of market reforms; a biosafety protocol; EST transfer; alleviation of debt; improved access to markets; and the establishment of EST centers.
BELARUS: Amb. Alexander Sychou noted the particular problems facing countries with economies in transition, highlighting post-Chernobyl problems. He proposed convening an international conference on sustainable development for countries with economies in transition.
PAKISTAN: Omar Kureishi, Member, Pakistan Environmental Protection Council, noted the establishment of Pakistan's National Conservation Strategy (NCS). He stressed the broad-based participatory mode of developing and implementing the NCS. The major obstacle to effective implementation of the NCS is the lack of financial resources.
UKRAINE: The delegate said that the CSD needs greater integration between the sectoral and cross-sectoral issues, rational reports and indicators for sustainable development. He hoped trade liberalization will increase financial resources for sustainable development.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Bedrich Moldan announced a new initiative to organize a workshop on education for sustainable development, which will take place in Prague later this year. The main outcome will be a set of recommendations to the fourth session of the CSD.
ECUADOR: Carlos Luzuriaga called for international support for the protection of ecosystems and a strategy for the sustainable use of wood, genetic and marine resources. He stressed the need for a Southern representative on the Forest Panel and the need to take sovereignty into account in these issues.
CUBA: Amb. Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla noted Cuba's National Environment and Development Programme, and emphasized that lack of political will and resources are the biggest obstacles to the implementation of Agenda 21. Cuba will host the ninth Meeting of Environment Ministers form Latin America and the Carribean.
AUSTRIA: The delegate said that the CSD must use clear language to make the process accessible to the public and raise public awareness. He also noted that an environmental framework for trade is still needed. Austria will host the next Conference of Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, to mark the Convention's 10th anniversary.
ITTO: Dr. B. C. Y. Freezailah, Executive Director, noted the ITTO's work on criteria and indicators and the guidelines for the sustainable management of forests. He called on States to accelerate ratification of the new ITTA. He welcomed the Forest Panel and said ITTO will cooperate fully.